Sunday 14 September 2014 19:35, UK
Harry Redknapp refused to get too downbeat after seeing Queens Park Rangers hammered 4-0 at Manchester United.
The capital outfit travelled to Old Trafford aware that they may be on the receiving end of a backlash.
That proved to the case, with a new-look United side rediscovering their spark as they eased to a comprehensive success – their first of the season.
Redknapp, though, feels that his side did not do too much wrong, with fortune deserting them on their travels.
He told Sky Sports: “We came and found ourselves, five minutes before half-time, at 1-0 and I think we gave a bad goal away, gave a needless free-kick away.
“They scored from that and I thought we could get in at 1-0 and we’re still bang in the game. We had a great chance at 1-0 to score, Matty Phillips could have scored.
“I thought we’d get in at 1-0, but suddenly there were two more goals before half-time and we were 3-0 down, and I don’t think our keeper had too many saves to make.
“At 3-0 at half-time, we’re not silly enough to think we can come out and beat these 4-3 now. You now it’s going to be hard, but you don’t want sixes and sevens if you can help it.
“In my eyes, we came out more or less the same. We just pushed (Eduardo) Vargas up front instead of Charlie (Austin) and went the same way.
“We could have got a goal back at 3-0, a great chance when Niko (Kranjcar) has had a shot and the keeper has saved with his legs. If you get a goal there it could change attitudes. But it’s a difficult place to come.”
QPR also saw combative midfielder Sandro limp off 16 minutes from the end, but Redknapp hopes his knock will not be too serious and that performance levels will improve alongside fitness.
He added: “It’s like all of these players when you take them away, like (Leroy) Fer, it’s fitness.
“He’s been away for two weeks with Holland, he’s played one 90 minutes I think since May. They need to get fit, we need to get them fit.
“Sandro hasn’t been playing, he needs to get fit. It’s a problem.
“In the international break, with Fer, he didn’t play in the two games for Holland, he’s probably stood around all week. We need to get them up and running.
“Sandro is the same, he just felt his calf was a little bit tight.”
